Stephen Dunne
North Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does the Minister recognise that the delays are causing a lot of stress to current officers and those who have served in the past and are impacting on the morale of current officers? What level of engagement has she had on the issue in the past, and what are her plans, in that regard, for the future?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. With approximately 15% of the entire Waterways Ireland estate located in Northern Ireland, I am keen to establish any detail that you may have on the scale of immediate safety risks, with regard to diseased trees in Northern Ireland specifically, that are linked to the tree management strategy, whic…”
“All the trust ports support the legislation, as was reflected in the responses to the consultation carried out last year on this important issue. It is also worth noting that trust ports in the rest of the United Kingdom — in Scotland, England and Wales — have been reclassified with no issues.”
“I am pleased to speak in the Second Stage debate on the Harbours Bill. As a member of the Committee for Infrastructure, I support the Bill's general intention, which, ultimately, is to provide all the trust ports in Northern Ireland with greater commercial flexibility. The trust ports are a key part of our local economy.”
“More than 20,000 people are employed in the harbour estates alone, and the harbours support over 15% of our country's total annual output. We can see the developments taking place at the D3 cruise terminal at Belfast harbour through the work that is going on there.”
“That should be the focus for all of us, and something that we can support and get behind. There is no doubt that all our trust ports already deliver significant economic and social benefits, but they are telling us that they can do more, want to do more and are willing to do more.”
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“They are desperate to secure a more suitable property to meet their needs. Many homes are simply not fit for purpose, with a never-ending waiting list for work to be done. Damp and mould continue to be a real problem across the Housing Executive's stock, and more innovative ways from the Minister are needed to tackle it, including improved insulation and energy efficiency measures. <BR /> <BR />Often, families find it impossible to stay in the area in which they were brought up. They simply cannot afford to purchase a home in an area where no suitable social housing is available. In August of this year, it was reported that the Housing Executive had a backlog of over £500 million of repairs and maintenance waiting to be carried out.”
“Private lets are also in short supply, and we have seen examples of landlords cashing in on ever-rising property prices, which, obviously, has had an impact. Rents are rising by 5·7%, and many simply cannot afford to rent privately, turning instead to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, an organisation that is simply unable to meet demand. <BR /> <BR />During 2019-2020, over 4,500 people were placed in temporary accommodation here. In 2020-21, that figure had risen to over 9,700. Unfortunately, those figures will only get worse. Daily, my constituency office, like those of so many other Members from across the Chamber and beyond, hears heartbreaking stories of families living in one room, multiple children sharing a bedroom and people with mobility issues being unable to negotiate stairs.”
“Meeting deposit requirements is another considerable challenge. I understand that only one local bank in Northern Ireland currently offers the 5% deposit scheme and that that is only on new builds, not resales. <BR /> <BR />The cost of renting has also greatly increased, with an estimate of around 25%. That hinders many young people saving for that all-important deposit, as that money is simply used for rental payments.”
“Indeed, my colleague Mr Frew touched on that and on getting priorities right so that housing has a knock-on effect, so reducing the impact on our health service. The cost to the NHS of dealing with issues resulting from inadequate housing conditions is estimated to be around £40 million a year. <BR /> <BR />As the motion states, the supply of social and affordable housing in Northern Ireland needs to be increased. The average price of housing here has increased by 30% since 2016, with the average house price now over £153,400. For so many people, that is simply unaffordable, and many people are struggling to make the first step onto the property ladder. That was the case even before the pandemic began, but the pandemic has obviously had an even greater negative impact on those trying to get onto the ladder.”
“Access to a safe, secure and fit-for-purpose home is a basic and fundamental human right. However, a roof over our head is much more than just that: it is vital to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of adults and children who, without a stable, safe and comfortable home, are less likely to succeed academically, more likely to end up in poorly paid employment, potentially be led into a life of crime and even to suffer from a higher mortality rate. Those are some of the things that define the importance of adequate and suitable housing. In short, the lack of a stable home environment, which affordable housing can provide, can impact all aspects of a person's life and, in turn, can have a catastrophic effect on society as a whole, putting a significant strain on our economy, community welfare and physical and mental health.”
“Will the Minister give an update on the provision of a culture and community fund to support community halls, which was a New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) commitment?”
“Thank you, Minister. Are any additional Department of Education NI100 projects scheduled to start before the end of the calendar year, this centenary year of our great country?”
“<BR /> <BR />Football in Northern Ireland has enjoyed a positive six years since the funding was originally allocated, from the success of the international men and women's teams, through to the Irish Premiership and Championship, and right down the divisions to grassroots. All have seen increasing interest and attendance levels across the seasons. Now is the time for kick-off from the Communities Minister. Clubs deserve delivery and certainty. The Minister must now move and get on with delivery.”
“Those plans will not only benefit the football clubs directly on the pitch but transform local football clubs even further into vibrant community centres. Better facilities will increase participation among all age groups, including children and young people — importantly, improving both physical and mental health — and also address issues like poverty. Those are just some of the benefits and reasons why investment delivery is needed. <BR /> <BR />Given the delay in releasing that funding, unfortunately, we have seen material costs rise significantly since it was first allocated six years ago. That will have a knock-on impact on the overall costs of any redevelopment programmes and schemes. It raises a real question about the need to increase the level of funding allocation for this important sector.”
“I wish to raise the lack of action to date by the Communities Minister in delivering the subregional stadia programme for soccer. Despite that money being allocated to the Department in 2015, six years ago and counting, local football clubs right across Northern Ireland are still, rightly, crying out for the release of the long-awaited funding. There is a real appetite for progress and delivery after such an unacceptable delay. <BR /> <BR />Many clubs have invested significantly in drawing up innovative plans and designs to improve facilities in and around their football clubs, with many clubs receiving planning permission and others having live planning applications in the system. Football clubs are real community hubs.”
“Given that it is, indeed, a global problem, does the Minister agree that one practical, local solution to help to address the backlog of HGV driver tests would be to amend the trailer test requirements in line with those in Great Britain? That would help to free up more examiners to carry out the main tests rather than the small trailer tests. Unfortunately, the Infrastructure Minister swiftly dismissed that idea last week.”
“Representatives of the Food and Drink Association have said that the current disruption is down to a number of factors, including labour access, COVID restrictions, and logistics and supply chains —”
“Work has also been undertaken to prioritise the speed of processing time for agri-food visas under tier 2 and to consider additional routes for temporary non-seasonal agricultural workers. It was clear from listening to the food processing industry just today that it has innovative options in terms of the English language requirement. That work needs to continue so that those workers can be trained up on the language during their time of employment. That could address the backlog. A considerable amount of work has also been done in our Economy Department. Its10X Economy skills strategy will help to ensure that our citizens and the business community have access to the modern and relevant skills that we all need.”
“As was mentioned by my colleague — it is such an important point that it is worth repeating — just over two weeks ago, the Irish Farmers' Association in the Irish Republic expressed concern regarding the lack of suitable labour available at processing level and on pig farms. There is a backlog of animals on farms because processors do not have the workforce required to maintain the essential level of slaughter. There are also gaps in skilled butchery. Work has been undertaken by our AERA and Economy Ministers to address those issues. They are not interested in words; they are interested in action. They are taking real steps with the UK Government to look at things such as the immigration policy to ensure that Northern Ireland's economy does not suffer.”
“She was asked whether she would amend the trailer test requirements and bring them in line with those in GB, which would have helped to free up more examiners so that they could carry out HGV tests rather than small trailer tests. By amending the trailer test criteria in Great Britain, an additional 50,000 HGV lorry tests will be made available each year to support the industry and wider society. <BR /> <BR />There are also challenges from labour shortages in our agri-food sector, with shortages on farms and in meat processing plants. Many workers from the EU and the rest of the world returned home during the pandemic and did not return.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is also the issue of the haulage sector being seen as an ageing occupation and not attractive to young people. Haulage companies say that the average age of HGV drivers in the UK is 55. The companies want more to be done to attract younger workers, including an improvement in terms and conditions, better facilities for drivers and recognition that they are an integral part of the economy. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic also created a large backlog in HGV driver tests. It has been impossible to get enough drivers up and running. Indeed, the industry warned the Prime Minister in June that 25,000 fewer candidates passed their test in 2020 than in 2019. One practical solution to help to address the backlog in the number of local HGV driver tests was swiftly dismissed last week by our Infrastructure Minister.”
“According to data collected by Transport Intelligence, Poland, which was mentioned earlier, was short of more than 120,000 drivers last year, and between 45,000 and 60,000 drivers were needed in Germany. As travel became increasingly restricted last year and large parts of the economy across the globe shut down, many drivers went home. Even today, haulage companies say that very few of those drivers have returned. Indeed, just 10 days ago, 'The Washington Post' reported the severe problems that the USA faces in its supply chain and the haulage challenges that it has through not having enough lorry drivers or warehouse workers, all of which are creating huge logistical challenges for the industry. Ultimately, those challenges are passed on to consumers.”
“There is no doubt that the pandemic continues to cause many challenges in many sectors across the globe. In Northern Ireland, we face many challenges, including in our agri-food and haulage sectors, the two sectors that are specifically mentioned in the motion. Those two vital sectors have been an integral part of our economy for many years. Recently, people who were at the Balmoral show got a sample of our agri-food sector, saw the quality on show from producers and farmers and heard from those who sell their products here about what a great place this is to do business. <BR /> <BR />The issues in the haulage sector are not unique to Northern Ireland. HGV driver shortages are being reported across Europe, including in the Republic of Ireland.”
“As my colleague the Chair mentioned, the Ulster Orchestra is another example of a home-grown entity whose performance spreads positivity around the world. It is important that the Minister recognises the value of the sector and delivers for it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Work must also continue on addressing our skills deficit and skills imbalances and, ultimately, focus on driving economic growth.”
“Just last week, in the Economy Committee, we had a useful briefing from the skills strategy advisory group, and the message was clear on the need for us to have a strategic approach to ensure that we had the right skills in place in our schools, colleges and universities. <BR /> <BR />Another example is the SPACE performing arts centre in Bangor, which is part of the South Eastern Regional College. It is a £12 million industry standard facility. It is fantastic, and I have been in it a number of times. It is an example of central government investment delivering not only for our young people but for people of all ages, particularly re-emphasising the need for upskilling with the loss of jobs in other sectors.”
“<BR /> <BR />As was mentioned, the lockdown and the COVID pandemic continue to have an impact on the sector, and some restrictions remain in place that limit the sector's ability to function at full capacity. A recent Arts Council survey of funded individuals showed that 97% of respondents sustained some loss of earnings during lockdown. The average loss of earnings was almost £13,000 per person, which is over £12 million in total. We need to look at how we retain people, develop skills and attract new entrants through apprenticeship programmes and upskilling to ensure that our sector continues to go from strength to strength. <BR /> <BR />There is also a role for councils to play in supporting investment and encouraging opportunities for the sectors.”
“One example is the music industry, which has been such a driver of economic activity, with headline events such as Ward Park 3 in 2019, which was held in Bangor in my constituency and was headlined by north Down's very own Snow Patrol, with support from local acts. The event attracted 35,000 music fans. Forty-three per cent of ticket sales were from outside Northern Ireland, creating over 60 jobs and generating £3 million in GVA to our economy and huge positive publicity around the world. There were also great figures in respect of day trippers' spend. That, combined with other local events such as the Open House Festival in Bangor, is an example of industries going from strength to strength in recent years.”
“Statistics provided specifically for Northern Ireland show that, in 2016, the music industry alone contributed over £61 million in gross value added (GVA) to our economy and employed over 3,800 people. While music tourism employs just under 1,000 people locally, in the same year, it attracted over 230,000 music tourists to concerts and festivals. We have a thriving music sector, and it is not just about the performers whom we all see on stage; it is much more than that and comprises everything from musicians to technicians, producers, promoters, venues, retailers and independent record stores. The pandemic certainly brought home the challenges that the sector faced during lockdown. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland is being seen more and more as an ideal location for the arts and creative industries.”
“I know some students who have been involved as extras or in acting roles in our various studios over the last one, two or three years, and they have spoken of the incredible experience that it was. That demonstrates the merit of having a vibrant industry. Those industries bring people together across generations and backgrounds, and they have a key role to play in improving physical and mental health. <BR /> <BR />Locally, over 25,000 people work in the creative industry or creative occupations, which represents just 3·1% of our workforce. Since creative industries rely on individual creativity, skill and talent, they have the potential to create capital and jobs, develop intellectual property and advance the way in which other business sectors innovate and compete.”
“I also welcome the chance to speak on this important motion. I commend the Member for tabling it. <BR /> <BR />Our arts and creative industry sectors have, indeed, seen huge growth over the last decade and have undoubtedly put Northern Ireland on the global stage as a place to visit, live and invest in. We have only to think of the success of 'Game of Thrones' and the positive impact that it had and continues to have on Northern Ireland plc. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague said, this is a valuable sector. That has to come forward at every level. That is shown even by the employment opportunities that such productions have presented to many to get involved in world-renowned TV and film productions.”
“In Ards and North Down Borough Council, for example, the average waiting time for a general application varies from five to 18 months. Generally, consultations are the main cause of delay. I have spoken to applicants and agents, who single out DFI Roads and NI Water. What more can be done to improve the process? What engagement has the Minister had with the councils, given the regional disparities that exist between councils, which can be very frustrating for applicants and agents?”
“The word "unprecedented" is often used, but, at that time, when the scheme was introduced, there was a real unknown factor, and people genuinely were not sure whether they could leave their home. <BR /> <BR />This situation therefore presents another opportunity for delivery. As my colleague Mr Frew said, it presents an opportunity for the Communities Minister to step up and deliver. That has not always been the case, but we need to see delivery on this one. The Minister needs to be creative, exhausting every avenue to look at means of supporting the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Yes, it is indeed. It was said earlier in the debate that it is one of the challenges, but we have to face reality. I know at first hand that people who receive donations from food banks are very grateful to those who organise them and contribute to them, but your point is certainly noteworthy. <BR /> <BR />It is great to see that positive partnership and to see people filling up boxes in our supermarkets to support our most vulnerable. During the height of the pandemic last year, the Department's food parcel scheme, done in conjunction with our 11 councils, was an example of a positive scheme. I know personally how grateful some were to receive those food supplies during what were very difficult and challenging months.”
“I have seen at first hand the tremendous job that food banks do in practically supporting our most vulnerable, and I commend all those who are involved in that fantastic, commendable and positive work, many of whom are volunteers. I also commend those who provide food banks with practical support and much-needed financial donations. <BR /> <BR />In my constituency of North Down, there are a number of active food banks, including Bangor food bank, Storehouse North Down, SST food bank in Donaghadee, Millisle food bank and various Holywood food banks, all of whose work is ever expanding to meet demand.”
“The ending of the furlough scheme, which had been such a lifeline for the 36,000 workers who were still part of it when it ended last week, is yet another blow and challenge and leaves many facing real uncertainty about their future employment, particularly and importantly when restrictions remain in place for some sectors, as those restrictions limit their ability to operate at full capacity and for their staff to earn that full wage. Indeed, Hospitality Ulster stated today that restaurants are still able to trade at around only two thirds of their capacity. That has a real knock-on impact on staff in that important sector. <BR /> <BR />The cut will see yet more pressure on our food banks and add further to our unacceptable levels of food poverty.”
“All that clearly demonstrates the real and current challenges that many people face, and the knock-on physical and mental health problems could bring further pressure to our already stretched NHS.”
“<BR /> <BR />For a low-income family, £20 a week is equivalent to six days of energy costs or three days of food costs. Unfortunately, people's bills will not fall by £85 a month from Wednesday. The ever-increasing costs of living, including the recent energy price rises locally, are further challenges to so many in my constituency and right across the country, particularly as the winter months set in and the demand for homes to be heated increases greatly. Indeed, our rates of fuel poverty are among the highest in the United Kingdom. We have seen, just recently, how Firmus Energy announced last week a 33% price rise, affecting some 50,000 customers, SSE announced a 21·8% rise from the start of this month, and Electric Ireland recently announced a price rise of 13·5%.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is much evidence, from those who work on the front line in supporting the most vulnerable, that this latest cut from the Government, which equates to around £1,000 per year and around £85 per month, will disproportionately and adversely impact on children and increase poverty rates across Northern Ireland. Many working families, including many in the private sector, will be adversely impacted on by this unnecessary cut. Some 13% of people here are already in absolute poverty, before housing costs. Local advice services have experienced unprecedented levels of demand over these past 18 months, and Advice NI stated today that, in July of this alone year, it dealt with 259 cases involving debt issues worth £1·4 million. That demonstrates the extent of the problems that face so many right across the country.”
“There is no doubt that the COVID pandemic continues to have a severe impact right across society, and that its impact is often hardest felt by low-income families right across Northern Ireland and in every corner of our country. The uplift in universal credit has indeed been a lifeline for millions of families right across the United Kingdom, and the decision to cut that extra payment will have a devastating impact on working families, including many single-parent households. It raises questions about the Government's levelling-up agenda.”
“All in all, while I acknowledge the intention and motivation behind the Bill, the timing is not right. I share some of the concerns that my colleagues mentioned. I believe that it is best to wait to see the energy strategy, which has had extensive expert input from across the sector to ensure that we meet our targets and do better.”
“Quite a considerable amount of work is ongoing in a number of sectors. Companies such as Phoenix Natural Gas are looking at the potential for the use of heat pumps, geothermal, biofuels, biomass, biogas and hydrogen. Other sectors are also actively looking at that right across Northern Ireland.”
“It also has the potential to contribute positively to our economic growth as we look to a post-COVID recovery. <BR /> <BR />Decarbonisation is yet another key issue for homes and businesses, and it is a future strategic target, with the aim of, importantly, reducing our reliance on oil and natural gas.”
“The strategy also provides an opportunity to produce a fair and affordable price for consumers as we begin our journey towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which is another ambitious target, as was the 2020 target that was successfully achieved. Affordability will be crucial, and ensuring that a balance is struck will require a lot of work and dedication. <BR /> <BR />Energy efficiency is another key area. As has been said, the unit of energy with the lowest cost is the one that we do not use. The local energy efficiency sector has the potential to grow significantly over the coming years, providing skills, development and job opportunities. We can certainly develop that, and I look forward to hearing from the Minister about it. I am sure that it will be a key part of the strategy, going forward.”
“Indeed, for the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021, 45·4% of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources located here. That is a positive point that needs to be highlighted and put on the record. Indeed, much work has been done on energy by the Minister and those who have gone before him, and the Department has worked extensively, right across the energy sector, with consumers and stakeholders. I know that that work is ongoing through the upcoming energy strategy, which we look forward to. <BR /> <BR />The cost and affordability of energy to businesses and households have been key matters of concern for some time. The upcoming strategy provides an opportunity tackle those issues and to ensure that fuel poverty is left behind.”
“The main factors in the recent energy price increase here have been the rising cost in wholesale markets, the increasing global demand for gas and the challenges in the supply chains. Those have led to a rise in the price of gas in the wholesale and retail markets, which has resulted in the increased cost of electricity generation, with associated impacts in the retail electricity market. The recent rises have demonstrated, once again, the need to move away from our reliance on importing. <BR /> <BR />It is, however, worth highlighting that, despite some of the negativity across the Chamber this morning, Northern Ireland successfully achieved its 40% renewables target by 2020.”
“That would impact upon our most vulnerable, particularly those who live in apartments and so on, given that it would not be practical for them to go down the road of microgeneration. Those people would miss out on any of the benefits received by those households that are generating. <BR /> <BR />As has been said, energy issues are all interconnected, and a partnership approach is essential. The issue of rising energy prices, which is a global problem and is having an impact in Northern Ireland, is very important. Certainly, the energy sector must deliver for customers. Effective and sustainable competition in the energy markets is critical for delivering choice, value and innovation.”
“Those words cause me some concern and certainly do not fill me with confidence about the viability, need for and effectiveness of the scheme, should it ever get the green light. <BR /> <BR />There is also the issue of the costs of any support scheme and how those would be distributed, particularly given that many who are simply unable to install microgeneration facilities — that has been the case for some time; it is not a new problem — may end up having to foot some of the bill. One of the common barriers, right across Northern Ireland, to households generating their own electricity is the set-up costs. There is a real danger that households that simply cannot afford to install microgeneration facilities will end up contributing to the costs involved.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the Second Stage debate on the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill. While I commend any efforts to develop and enhance our security of supply and to look at all sustainable ways to improve our energy offering, I have a number of concerns about the Bill. <BR /> <BR />In response to an Economy Committee request about the Bill, the Department confirmed that there are already mechanisms in place in Northern Ireland, through which microgenerators can export excess generation to the grid in return for payment, and they, crucially, have a choice. That brings welcome competition, given that there are a number of suppliers, including Power NI and others. <BR /> <BR />On page 4 of the Bill's explanatory and financial memorandum, this line certainly jumped out at me:”
“I look forward to the constructive work ahead.”
“I thank the Member for that point, and I certainly concur with it. As I touched on, there is a role for more than just the Department for Communities to play to try to get to grips with it. Hopefully, lessons can be learned going into the future, so that we can improve the situation and ultimately help those with addiction problems and those who suffer from problem gambling. <BR /> <BR />Whilst some parts of the Bill are welcome, there are many gaps, including on online gambling, which is so key and the number one means by which people become attracted and addicted to gambling. I have concerns about some elements of the Bill, and it is clear that more needs to be done to render it fit for purpose and to maximise its effectiveness in tackling problem gambling. Serious change is needed to address that very serious problem.”
“Only legislative change will properly regulate these terminals, and more needs to be done through the Bill, particularly around the issue of online gambling.”
“It was an opportunity to tackle fixed-odds betting terminals, and, again, that opportunity seems to have been missed to date. We know the harm of fixed-odds betting machines. They are highly addictive, primarily used by young people and are attractive to those from lower-income households. They particularly attract problem gamblers because multiple bets can be placed. That means that there can be bigger wins, but it is more likely that people who use them will face crippling losses. There is often only one winner, and it is not those who are playing. While regulation is in place in the rest of the UK, any control of fixed-odds betting terminals here is purely voluntary. Whilst most larger operators have limited bets to £2, that is by no means universal.”
“Again, opening on Sunday increases the attractiveness for those who have serious addiction problems and allows them to access gambling on additional days. <BR /> <BR />The Bill should have been a series of legislative provisions aimed at bringing Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK and making our laws fit for purpose. It is important that we scrutinise the Bill, outline what should have been in the legislation and state what the Committee should consider as it scrutinises the Bill, should it pass Second Stage today. The Bill should have included legislative provisions on gaming machines. Whilst clause 7 does introduce an offence of inviting a person under 18 to play gaming machines, that falls well short of what is needed.”
“A ban on credit cards has been in place GB since April 2020, and I firmly believe that a similar ban should be in place here to protect problem gamblers who are at risk of getting into serious financial hardship through credit cards. That was mentioned earlier. That is not money that they have, and they may never be able to repay it. The problems that flow from that — the domino effect — are very dangerous and can often be tragic. <BR /> <BR />One of the key provisions in the first, substantial, Northern Ireland gambling legislation for over 36 years is to actually propose less regulation of betting shops, with them being allowed to open on a Sunday. That will not help to support those who have gambling addictions. There is also an issue for staff as well, because Sunday is the one day that they have off to spend with their families.”